While there are a number of factors that can cause acne, some of which you can’t control (like genetics), there are some things you do every day that could be giving you pimples. Dermatologist reveals the sneaky things that might be causing you to break out—what to do about them.
- Your cell phone. How often do you clean your cell phone? If you’re seeing pimples on your cheeks or anywhere near the area where you hold your phone, they may be from those hour-long convos with your crush. Your phone picks up lots of dirt and bacteria (from your hands, your bag, the kitchen counter), which can then get transferred to your face when you’re chatting on the phone.Wipe your screen with an anti-bacterial wipe oftento get rid of dirt and germs.
- Your pillowcase. Not changing your pillowcases enough can also cause your skin to break out. Even if you wash your face every night, your pillowcases carry dirt and sweat from your hair, hands, and build up from the products you use on your face at night, which can clog your pores, so it’s a good idea to change them every few days.
- Your hands. You know how you rest your face on your hand while you’re studying? That might be the reason for those blemishes on your cheek or jaw. You’re constantly touching things that have germs—anything from your phone to your locker—so putting your hands on your face for a long period of time can cause dirt and bacteria from anything you touch to get into your pores.
- Hair products. All that extra hairspray on your bangs could be the cause of those annoying pimples on your forehead and along your hairline. After applying hair products, swipe a cleansing wipe across your face and try to keep hair products away from your hairline. In addition to your face, hair products can cause bacne, too. Use a mild body wash after washing and rinsing hair to help keep body acne in check.
- Lack of sleep. A late-night study sesh or binge-watching your favorite Netflix show until 3am is not healthy for you or your skin. Not sleeping enough can make your hormones get out of whack and raise your body’s stress levels, which can make you breakout. Aim to get at least eight hours of sleep to look and feel your best.
- Popping your pimples. Sure, squeezing that zit might seem like it’s helping, but that’s only temporary. The more you pop a pimple, the longer it will last. If your hands are dirty, you’re only adding more germs and bacteria to your face, which slows down the healing process and can cause more pimples. Constantly picking at a pimple can also irritate it even more, causing redness and scarring. Instead, try a spot treatment with salicylic acid
